Simon Juden - Chairman

Simon Juden, one of the UK's leading technical architects, is a Cambridge mathematics graduate who has been a freelancer since 1997, supplying expert services to a range of blue-chip clients as well as writing and broadcasting on freelancing and the IT sector.

Simon Juden joined PCG in its first year, and for the past year served as director with overall responsibility for coordinating PCG's legal work on IR35, S660A and other case law. He wrote PCG's Guide to IR35 and Guide to S660A, led the PCG negotiating team that obtained clarity from the Inland Revenue on a variety of IR35 status factors, directed meetings with DTI regarding the Agency Regulations and contact with the Home Office on the Security Regulations. Dr Juden played a key role in the PCG team that agreed an industry standard contract with the agency body, ATSCo.

Speaking after his election by members of PCG's Consultative Council, he said, "My vision is that as the trade association for freelancers, PCG will represent the voice of freelancers, working with the Government and with industry to protect and promote freelancing and freelancers, on a local, national and European level.

"PCG will be at the heart of the freelance community," he continued, "supporting and nurturing its members through all parts of the freelance life cycle, as well as offering commercial and peer support, and encouraging new ways of working."

Contact: [email protected]

Simon Griffiths - Deputy Chairman

Deputy chairman Simon Griffiths graduated from the University of Cardiff in 1986 with an Honours degree in music. In his career, he has provided consultancy to many government and large commercial clients. In his primary role of technical architect, he has been instrumental in designing some of the UK's largest UNIX systems. He is a director of Rainbow Computer Consultancy, which builds bespoke e-commence and Internet applications, and is a strong advocate of the Open Source Development model.

Simon has been a PCG director for five years, variously holding the posts of legal director, chairman and deputy chairman, and has gained a wealth of experience from his involvement in the organisation of PCG and its campaigns.

Simon's main responsibilities within the PCG include legal issues, external affairs, member services, supplier relations and liaison with external parties, including education and managing disputes or complaints processes.

Contact: [email protected]

Neil Graham - Finance Director

Neil Graham qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1982, and joined a medium-sized firm in London, leaving three years' later to work as a partner in a smaller firm. In 1988, he joined what was then a two partner firm in London's West End called Brian Berg Kaprow & Co and, following two mergers and natural organic growth, this has grown to become what is now Berg Kaprow Lewis LLP, a top 60 firm with 13 partners and around 100 staff. The main office is in Finchley, north London, with satellite offices in both Essex and west London.

When Neil joined the firm, it acted for about 70 IT contractors, all of whom operated through their own limited companies, and part of his responsibility was to build up that side of the practice. Berg Kaprow Lewis now looks after around 200 freelance contractors, and during his 16 years' working with IT freelancers, Neil has witnessed a number of changes, including the introduction of IR35.

As PCG's newly appointed Finance Director, Neil brings not only his general knowledge of business, particularly in the SME sector, but also his specific experience of dealing with the freelance contractor market.

Contact: [email protected]

Richard Robson - Director

Richard moved into IT in 1983 and worked in Civil Service, banking and consultancy before starting his own business in 1989. He has successfully fulfilled contracts in a wide variety of environments including financial sector, insurance and oil industry and combines his technical skills with a background that includes analysis, programming, database design and project management.

As the Special Projects Director, he has specific responsibility for nurturing and developing projects that range from ad hoc tasks to major developments such as the PCG's sector specific ISO 9001 scheme for consultants.

Contact: [email protected]

Ian Durrant - Director

Ian Durrant has been a contractor in the IT industry for 14 years, with a total of 17 years' experience in the industry. Before becoming self-employed, he worked for a large commercial insurance company as a senior analyst programmer. He joined PCG in its early days when he realised the potential threat that IR35 posed to his business.

Before taking responsibility for his current role, Ian was PCG's IT director and was heavily involved with the setup and migration of all the systems to PCG's new offices. Ian has been a director of PCG for five years and has acquired a wealth of experience through his involvement in all PCG's major campaigns.

Contact: [email protected]

Julie Stewart - Director

Julie started in IT 29 years ago and has been a freelancer for the last 22 years, covering a wide range of roles through programmer, designer, analyst and technical consultant on the Oracle Financials package, as well as testing, data migration and business analysis. She has completed varied contracts within the distribution, manufacturing, chemical, building society, local council, utilities and telecoms industries.

She joined PCG in May 1999 when it was a new lobbying group against IR35, which was threatening to put contractors out of business, and has served on the Consultative Council from its inception in 2000, when PCG came into being as a legal entity.

Julie's focus will be to help build a regional network of PCG clusters, supporting members locally as well as virtually through the internet. She will also take a keen interest in the marketing side of the PCG.

Contact: [email protected]

Chris Woollacott - Director

An expert in the design of radio communication systems, Chris Woollacott is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and Chartered Physicist. He holds a first class honours degree in electronics engineering and an MSc (with distinction) in microwave solid-state physics. A director of Wireless Solutions Ltd, Chris has supplied design and consultancy services to a range of blue chip and SME clients and has led a number of state of the art radio developments including third generation (3G) base stations, mobile telephones and defence and security related communications products.

Chris joined PCG in 1999 and has been a member of the Consultative Council since 2002. As a non-executive director, he is involved in all aspects of PCG strategy, decision-making and ensuring the correct governance of the organisation.

Contact: [email protected]